Luke 5:29 · Bible study
Luke 5:29 Commentary: The Feast of Levi
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Levi's feast for Jesus shows that the call to follow Christ does not sever us from our old relationships, but transforms them into opportunities for grace.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Levi's feast expresses gratitude for his call and creates a mission opportunity among his old associates.
- Key words: dochēn megalēn (great feast/reception); ochlos polus telōnōn kai allōn (great crowd of tax collectors and others); katakeimenoi (reclining).
- Main debate: Whether the feast occurred immediately or later, and whether 'others' refers to Gentiles or general sinners.
- Theological theme: Jesus' mission to call sinners, demonstrated through table fellowship and transformed relationships.
- Best use: A model of grace-driven hospitality and evangelism through one's existing social network.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.
KJV King James Version 1769
And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Levi made him a great feast in his house: and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Levi made a great entertainment to him in his house, and there was a great multitude of tax-gatherers and others who were with them reclining (at meat),
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Levi made a great entertainment for him in his house, and there was a great crowd of tax-gatherers and others who were at table with them.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: And there was a great company of publicans and of others that were at table with them.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
E hizo Leví gran banquete en su casa; y había mucha compañía de publicanos y de otros, los cuales estaban á la mesa con ellos.
E Levi lhe fez um grande banquete em sua casa; e havia ali uma grande multidão de publicanos e de outros que estavam sentados com eles à mesa .
Lévi lui donna un grand festin dans sa maison, et beaucoup de publicains et d’ autres personnes étaient à table avec eux.
Und Levi richtete ihm ein großes Mahl zu in seinem Hause, und viele Zöllner und andere saßen mit ihm zu Tisch.
En Levi richtte Hem een groten maaltijd aan, in zijn huis; en er was een grote schare van tollenaren, en van anderen, die met hen aanzaten.
E Levi gli fece un gran convito in casa sua; e c’era gran folla di pubblicani e d’altri che erano a tavola con loro.
I sprawił mu lewi ucztę wielką w domu swoim; a było wielkie zgromadzenie celników i innych, którzy z nim za stołem siedzieli.
И сделал для Него Левий в доме своем большое угощение; и там было множество мытарей и других, которые возлежали с ними.
利未 在 自己 家 裡為耶穌 大 擺 筵席， 有 許多 稅吏 和 別人 與 他們 一同坐席。
And Levi made a great feast for him in his house: and a great number of tax-farmers and others were seated at table with them.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 5:29
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Levi's feast, hosted immediately after his call, is not a contradiction of his leaving everything but an expression of gratitude and mission. Calvin notes that Levi left the tax booth but continued to use his house and resources for Christ. The word dochē (reception) suggests a large gathering, not necessarily luxury. Barnes emphasises that Levi assembled his fellow tax collectors in hopes that Jesus would do them good. The imperfect ēn (there was) describing the crowd implies an ongoing scene, the gathering was not a one-off event but an environment Jesus inhabited. All see this event as illustrating Jesus' mission to call sinners, as stated in verse 32. The feast models using one's resources and relationships to introduce others to Christ.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Levi hosted a feast for Jesus with tax collectors and sinners, demonstrating his gratitude and Jesus' mission to call sinners.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Timing of the feast | The feast occurred after Levi's call, as recorded in Luke 5:29. | Some (Gill) think it likely happened some time later, as there would not be time to prepare that same day. Others see it as immediate, reflecting spontaneous gratitude. |
| Motivation for the feast | Levi wanted to honour Jesus and bring his associates into contact with him. | Barnes emphasises evangelistic intent; Calvin stresses hospitality and gratitude without downplaying mission. |
| Meaning of 'others' | They were people of low reputation, distinct from the tax collectors. | Gill suggests 'others' (allōn) refers to Gentiles, citing Talmudic usage. Most modern commentators see it as a general term for sinners or outsiders. |
| Leaving everything | Levi left the tax booth to follow Jesus. | Calvin and others argue he retained use of his house and property; thus 'left all' refers to his occupation, not abandonment of all possessions. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Levi, also called Matthew, was a tax collector (telōnēs) at Capernaum, a trade hub on the Sea of Galilee. Such men were despised as collaborators with Rome and were often guilty of extortion. Their wealth and social exclusion made them a distinct class. This background explains the scandal when Jesus called him and then attended his feast. The word dochē (from dechomai, to receive) implies a reception with many guests. Reclining at table (katakeimenoi) was the formal posture of a banquet. By hosting this in his own house, Levi used the very resources accumulated in his former life to honour Jesus and to create an opportunity for his old associates to meet the One who had called him. The Pharisees' accusation in verse 30, eating with tax collectors and sinners, shows that table fellowship was a boundary marker of holiness in Judaism. Jesus' willingness to recline with them announced that his mission was to heal the sick, not to avoid contamination.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Greek text is stable across witnesses.
Reception History
Luke 5:29 has been read across Christian tradition as a model of grace-filled hospitality. Early church writings used Levi's feast to illustrate the transformation that follows conversion: a sinner becomes a host for Christ. In the Reformation, Calvin and others highlighted the balance between leaving all and using one's resources for the kingdom. Modern readings often focus on Jesus' inclusion of social outcasts, emphasising table fellowship as a sign of the gospel. The verse is frequently cited in discussions on evangelism through relationships and the use of homes for ministry.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Gratitude expressed in action, Levi left everything, yet immediately hosted a feast for Jesus. His leaving did not mean isolation; it meant redirecting his home and wealth toward the King.
- Mission through relationship, Levi invited his own network: tax collectors and others. The great crowd shows that the first impulse of grace is to bring others to the Physician.
- The scandal of grace, Jesus reclined with sinners, breaking social and religious barriers. The Pharisees murmured, but Jesus called the sick.
Five-point outline
- Leaving all (v.28), the cost of discipleship.
- Hosting a great feast, using one's resources for Christ.
- The crowd of tax collectors, Levi's former community becomes a mission field.
- Jesus at the table, no contamination, only healing.
- The murmured question (v.30), the kingdom challenges our categories.
Illustration hooks
- New believer's party: Someone who once lived a rough life gets saved and immediately hosts a barbecue for their old friends, hoping they will meet the same Jesus.
- Office welcome: A Christian who owns a small business uses the company lunchroom to host a meal for coworkers, some of whom live very differently.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does following Jesus mean I have to drop my old friends completely?
- How can I use my home or money for evangelism without being self-righteous?
- Why did the Pharisees get so upset over table fellowship?
Leading a Discussion
Levi did not become a recluse when he followed Christ. He threw a party. This small group session explores what happens when grace takes root in a life: it spills over into relationships, homes, and tables. The goal is not just to admire Levi but to ask how our own conversions might be similarly celebrated and shared.
Discussion questions
- Levi left everything (v.28) but then hosted a feast in his house. How do you reconcile these two actions? What does this suggest about the nature of discipleship?
- Why do you think Levi invited mostly tax collectors and sinners rather than his religious neighbours? What does his guest list reveal about his priorities?
- Read Matthew 9:10 and Mark 2:15. How do the parallel accounts add detail to the scene? What do they tell us about Jesus' comfort in such company?
- The Pharisees murmured, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?' (v.30). What assumptions about holiness lay behind their question? How does Jesus' answer in v.31-32 redefine holiness?
- If you were in Levi's position, who would you invite to a feast for Jesus? What does that say about the people God has placed in your life?
- Levi's feast was 'great', a big, intentional gathering. What might a 'great feast' look like in your context? It might be more about hospitality than expense.
- How does this passage challenge or encourage your view of evangelism? Is it more about words at a pulpit or meals at a table?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Matthew 9:10 | As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. |
| Mark 2:15 | He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him. |
| Luke 15:1 | Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him. |
| John 12:2 | So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him. |
| I Corinthians 5:9 | I wrote to you in my letter to have no company with sexual sinners; |
| I Corinthians 5:11 | But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist. Don’t even eat with such a person. |
| I Corinthians 10:27 | But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that the Greek phrase for "great feast" emphasizes the number of guests and the warmth of their welcome, not the quality or quantity of the food. The host gathered many friends so they could see and hear Jesus and be convinced that his change of allegiance was right.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that Matthew omitted the detail about hosting a great feast for Jesus from his own gospel, showing how true religion avoids self-praise. He suggests Matthew gathered his fellow tax collectors to bring them into contact with Jesus, and the Lord used the occasion for good despite the risk of criticism.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin clarifies that when Matthew left all to follow Christ, he did not abandon his domestic affairs. He was free to use his house and property as his calling allowed, provided they did not hinder his discipleship. The decisive break was leaving the custom-house, not renouncing every possession.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The feast Matthew hosted shows he had real resources to give up when he left everything to follow Jesus. The large gathering of tax collectors, deeply unpopular but drawn to the Sinless One's kindness, highlights the social impact of Jesus' acceptance. The Greek word for feast actually means a reception, and the guests were reclining at table, not sitting upright.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Then Leui made him a great feast in his owne house, where there was a great company of Publicanes, and of other that sate at table with them.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that Levi threw the feast not only out of gratitude but also to bring Jesus together with his fellow tax collectors and other outcasts. True grace, Gill argues, desires the salvation of others as much as one's own, and Levi hoped Christ would reach them as he himself had been reached.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees Jesus' closing remark about old wine as an understanding concession, not a condemnation. The old wine is good only for those not yet accustomed to the new, which is inherently better. This reflects Christ's patient method: He did not take away the old at once but allowed gradual transition to the new.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that this passage contains no physical miracle, yet its acts of grace -- the call of a despised tax collector and Christ's fellowship with sinners -- are no less powerful proofs that Jesus was sent by God. For Henry, these "wonders of his grace" carry the same weight as any healing.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent draws attention to the Greek word behind "feast," noting it means a reception or welcoming party, from the root meaning "to receive." He observes that this particular term appears only here and in Luke 14:13, giving the gathering a sense of personal welcome rather than a general celebration.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that the feast Levi held for Jesus was necessarily large because of the many guests invited. The scale of the entertainment was not simply a display of generosity but was required by the number of people present.